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Pennington moves on as Dolphins' QB
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Favre's first meaningful game with the New York Jets after 16 seasons in Green Bay has overshadowed his predecessor's similar rebirth for the opposition.
"I'm used to playing against former teammates," new Miami Dolphins starter Chad Pennington said. "I've never played against a former team."
He will now — and it's all because Favre's arrival ended Pennington's eight-year Jets run.
Pennington has since found a new home in Miami, which signed him to a two-year contract following his release last month from the Jets. Like Favre, Pennington is still adjusting to his new surroundings.
"Brett and I are in similar situations," Pennington said in a Wednesday conference call with Jets media. "We're trying to learn new offenses, meet our teammates, learn a new organization.
"I remember hearing Brett say, 'It's like being a rookie all over again.' It really has been."
A rookie prompted Miami to snare Pennington before other interested suitors could. Chad Henne had outplayed older quarterbacks Josh McCown and John Beck early in Dolphins training camp. Miami, though, didn't want to rush its 2008 second-round draft choice onto the field before he was truly ready to start.
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The Dolphins now have the luxury of grooming Henne behind Pennington, who is familiar with Dolphins executive Bill Parcells and offensive coordinator Dan Henning from when all three were with the Jets. His comfort with Henning's system was evident in three preseason appearances. Pennington completed 72 percent of his passes with one touchdown and no turnovers.
Pennington has made such a good impression that, like Favre in New York, he was voted a team captain despite his newbie status in Miami.
"It says an awful lot about him and his makeup," Miami coach Tony Sparano told Dolphins media this week. "On the offensive side of the ball, we needed some leadership. From the first day he's been here, the players have taken to him."
The Jets also have sung the praises of Pennington, who led them to three playoff appearances during an injury-plagued career. Players described him as "smart" (cornerback Darrelle Revis) and a "great leader" (wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery). Jets coach Eric Mangini said Pennington was a "good person" and "good player."
Mangini didn't use the two words that Pennington had become in his final days with the Jets: chopped liver.
When a prime cut of quarterback beef like Favre became available, the Jets couldn't get Pennington off their menu fast enough. Upon finalizing the Favre trade with Green Bay, New York dumped Pennington and his $6 million salary for 2008.
Even those who respect Pennington, like Jets defensive end David Bowens, understand why the move was made. Pennington was 1-7 as a starter in 2007 before being replaced by backup Kellen Clemens, who didn't fare much better. Pennington and Clemens were jostling for the first-string spot in the preseason when Favre arrived, generating what Bowens described as "euphoria" in the Jets locker room.
"It seems like we're not as tight as we were or going in hoping to win games. We're expecting to win," Bowens said. "It's not like that level wasn't there with Chad. One position doesn't make the team. But it just seems like because of what Brett has done in the past, we feel we can accomplish a lot of things."
Pennington has the second-highest completion percentage (65.1) of any quarterback in league history, but his achievements simply don't compare to Favre's. The stronger-armed Favre is a Super Bowl winner and three-time Most Valuable Player who holds virtually every major NFL passing record.
"It is a situation that's simple," Pennington said. "The Jets felt they needed to get Brett Favre to be their quarterback and I wasn't the guy. You can't worry about why or why not. You move on.
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"You can look at it as an obstacle or an opportunity. I've always attempted to look at things as an opportunity."
Pennington's new opportunity is different than the one being given Favre in New York. The Jets are gearing for a Super Bowl run and feel the 38-year-old Favre is the missing piece. Miami is simply trying to regain respectability after last year's 1-15 disaster.
With the Dolphins turning over half their 2007 roster this preseason, stability at quarterback was needed. Pennington — Miami's 13th different starting quarterback since No. 13 (Dan Marino) retired after the 1999 season — provides it.
At 32, Pennington has the chance for a lengthy stretch as a Dolphins starter. With Miami and New York both in the AFC East, that means two guaranteed chances each season to prove his former team made a mistake.
But unlike Favre, who can't stop taking shots at Packers management, Pennington said revenge isn't a motivating factor entering Sunday's game.
"I'd be remiss to say there are no emotions at all," Pennington said. "At the same time, my whole focus has been on what we need to do to try to win ... The excitement around opening day will obviously be there. But the hype and emotions around the game, it's more for the people on the outside than for the guys on the inside."
We'll see if Pennington feels the same way Sunday when his standing as a Jets outsider truly hits home.
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